Smith to miss mini camp, will be fined

3 years ago

Bengals right tackle Andre Smith will miss the club’s mandatory minicamp this week, head coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday.

“He won’t be here these three days,” Lewis said, according to the club’s official Twitter feed. “He’s dealing with something he’s got to get through.”

According to Joe Danneman of Fox 19 in Cincinnati, Lewis indicated that Smith was missing the minicamp for a personal reason unrelated to his January arrest in Atlanta for possessing a gun at an airport. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported Smith’s lack of participation Tuesday was not tied to his contract or any on-field concerns.

The Bengals will fine Smith for his absence, Lewis said, according to multiple media outlets.

“You have to be fair. There have to be ramifications,” Lewis said, according to Fox 19.

The Bengals can fine Smith as much as $66,150 if he misses all three days of minicamp.

Smith, 26, signed a new three-year contract with Cincinnati in April. He did not attend the club’s organized team practice activities (OTAs).